No, deer ticks can’t jump, fly, or drop from height. They climb low vegetation to about ankle or knee level and then hold their front legs out. When a host brushes past, they can then latch on.
This is one of the persistent myths in tick country, and it’s not too hard to see why. The idea of ticks raining from the sky to latch on to you is scary enough to remember. It’s also thankfully not accurate.
Ticks hunt by waiting. This behavior is called questing. A tick climbs a grass stem, low shrub, or piece of leaf litter and then grips with its back legs and puts its front legs forward. The front legs have sensors for carbon dioxide, body heat, moisture, and vibration. Once something warm brushes by the vegetation and trips these sensors, the tick grabs on. It’s not elegant, but it works like a charm.
Ticks generally aren’t going to spend time up high. That would expose them to drier, sunnier conditions that would dehydrate them quickly. And there wouldn’t be enough hosts passing by like deer, mice, or dogs. So they stay at ground level.
Nymphs, the small ticks responsible for most Lyme disease transmission, usually quest in leaf litter within a few inches of the ground. Adults climb higher, but “higher” means roughly adult knee height in tall grass.
You may still wonder how you’re finding ticks on your scalp or behind your ears. The reason is that ticks climb once they latch onto you. They tend to settle in places like the hairline, behind ears, around the neck, armpits, waistband, and behind the knees.
If you’re worried about ticks on the trail, stay in the center and away from the brushy fringe. Tuck pants into socks. And once you go back inside, still check yourself for ticks. Removing ticks quickly can reduce your odds of falling ill with Lyme disease and other tick borne illnesses.
If ticks are a problem on your property, Mosquito Squad of Northern Westchester can help. Mosquito Squad treats the leaf litter, tall grass, and shaded edges where ticks wait for a host. This will help you protect your family with up to 90% reduction in pest activity on a recurring cycle.
